The Secret Pianist
Gabriella, Martine, and Simone are doing their best to survive in a small town along the northern coast of occupied France. When the Commandant comes to their door to investigate their aunt’s now-empty apartment, which they had tried to hide, he spies their piano and orders Gabriella to teach his stepdaughter to play piano. Meanwhile, Martine has brought home a carrier pigeon with a message from the British secret service, and Simone is sneaking in after dark most nights. Their pact to always make decisions together is pushed to the limits as life under German occupation grows ever more treacherous. As they struggle to find a balance between resistance and survival, each sister must make her own choice about the risks she will take.
In London, Guy Burton is the MI6 agent waiting impatiently for any response from his carrier pigeons that does not involve German practical jokes. When he finally receives a message coded in music, he is thrilled to finally have proof of his success. When he searches for answers at the local music school, the music itself provokes emotions he long thought buried by grief. Despite the apparent success of the program, his superiors have other ideas, and he realizes his mysterious musician may be in more danger than she knows.
This heartfelt WWII story brings to life the everyday challenges people faced when trying to decide who to trust and who will betray them. Complicated characters and dire circumstances create unlikely alliances and make for a unique take on a well-known time period. With plenty of surprising twists and turns, The Secret Pianist is as suspenseful as a mystery, while also deeply moving and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.
